What is the Difference Between Fruit and Seed?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a fruit and a seed lies in their origin and structure. Here are the key differences:
- Origin: A fruit is the ripened ovary of a plant, formed from the fertilized ovary of an angiosperm, while a seed is a fertilized ovule, containing the embryo and stored food to sustain it through germination and early development of the seedling.
- Structure: A fruit has two major portions: the pericarp and the seed, while a seed has three portions: the seed coat, endosperm, and embryo. The fruit is enclosed by an exocarp, while the seed is enclosed by a seed coat.
- Purpose: Fruits help in seed dispersal by attracting animals, while seeds can grow into a new plant. Without seeds, the fruit cannot grow into a new plant, but without the fruit, the seed can still grow into a new plant.
In summary, a fruit is the ripened ovary of a plant that contains seeds, while a seed is a fertilized ovule containing the embryo and stored food for germination and early seedling development. Both fruits and seeds play crucial roles in the plant's reproductive cycle.
Comparative Table: Fruit vs Seed
Here is a table comparing the differences between fruits and seeds:
| Characteristic | Fruit | Seed |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Formed from the ovary of a flower | Formed from the ovule of a flower |
| Attachment Scars | Shows two scars for attachment | Shows one scar for attachment |
| Inside Contents | Contains seed(s) | Embryo is present inside |
| Protection | Protects the seed | Seeds are present inside the fruit |
| Classification | Classified into simple, aggregate, and multiple fruits | Classified into naked and enclosed seeds |
| Role in Plant | Attracts animals for seed dispersal | Reproduction of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants |
Fruits are the mature ovaries of flowering plants, usually containing seeds, and serve to attract animals for seed dispersal. Seeds, on the other hand, are the fertilized ovules of plants, containing an embryo, and are responsible for the reproduction of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants.
Read more:
- Grain vs Seed
- Fruit vs Vegetable
- Nuts vs Seeds
- Seed vs Nut
- Fruits vs Vegetables
- Fruits vs Nuts
- Berries vs Fruits
- Spore vs Seed
- Seeds vs Bulbs
- False Fruit vs True Fruit
- Sapling vs Seedling
- Aggregate Fruit vs Multiple Fruit
- Crop vs Plant
- Fruit Juice vs Fruit Drink
- Tree vs Plant
- Dehiscent vs Indehiscent Fruits
- Pollination vs Fertilization
- HYV Seeds vs Traditional Seeds
- Fruit Juice vs Fruit Punch